Game apparatus



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TED srA GEORGE W. BISHOP. F NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAME APPARATUS.

'i pplication led `April 17, 1922. Serial No. 553,637.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE lV. BISHOP, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of Bronx and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a `game apparatus and particularly to a football game apparatus suitable for indoor or'parlor 'use in which the plays and the problems of strategy and tactics frequently met in actual football games are reproduced.

, In football games the playing of the game is divided into periods of .time which, to some extent influence the score which may be attained and the tactics tofbe used for contemplated plays. 'In game apparatus heretofore used this element of time has not been represented and many of the situations which call for the exercise ofv judgement in the selection of a. play to be attempted have been lacking from these types of game apparatus, as, for example, the necessity of making a definite number of yards gain in a limited number of downs, or the desirability of selecting a playwhich, if successful, will score within the time or number of plays which remain before the close of Many of the more interesting features of the game are therefore. lacking in game apparatus in which the time element is not represented and, moreover, this type of game fails to develop an understanding of the rules and fundamentals of the game.

`An object of the present invention is to 'provide a game apparatus in which the more important problems of strategy and tactics encountered inl actual football games are reproduced and in which the fundamental rules of the game are used and followed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus in which the element of time is represented as well as the distance beween goals. Y

` A. further object of the )invention is to provide a field of play for football game apparatus of the above type in which both the distances between goals and the time of plays are graphically represented."

Still further objects of the'invention are to provide1 a game apparatus in which a type of play may be selected and in which.

the chances' for success or gain or for loss vare -marking similar to those in actual games. and an apparatus in which the game may be governed by the official football rules.

lVith these and other objects in view. the invention comprises the apparatus described and set forth in the following specification and 'c-laims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a foot ball field forming a partl of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2 is a. vie-w of a chart of plays to be used in connection with the field shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a figure of a. die having suitable numerals to indicate the value of the play and adapted to serve as an indicating means to determine the success of a play.

Fig. 4 is a top view of a marking device adapted to indicate the position o`f the ball on the field illustrated in Fig. 1

Fig. 5 is a side view of the marking device shown in Fig. 4, and,

Fig. G is a view of a flag device to indicate the distance to be gained in a definite number of plays.

In the present invention thel field of play is divided by`a number of spaced transverse lines into spaces extending the length of the field, each space representing a definite number of yards on the field. and by lengthwise lines into a number of spaces extending across the field. each line or space representing a play. The play, or time. spaces or lines are preferably also separated into periods corresponding to the fifteen minute quarters of the usual football game. A

device is provided which is' adapted to be placed on the field at the intersections of. the play spaces and length or distance lines, the position of the marking device on the distance lines indicating the progress of a player toward goal and 'its position on the play. or time spaces indicating the number of plays used'and those remaining'before the end of the game, thus corresponding to the time used in an actual game. The space gained or lost on each lay is indicated by an appropriate num- Eer or other suitable indicating mark on a -determining device such as a die or dice, a top or a spinner, the indication being purely the result of chance. The player may, howtance whichmust be gained and the number of plays in which the gain must be made.

Referring more particularly to the ac companying drawings, the distance between goal lines 12 and 14 of a football field 1G, shown on a' reduced scale in Fig. 1, is divided into a number oj/spac'es or zones 18 by a number of transverse lines 20, each space or zone representing a definite number of yards. In the example illustrated in the drawings each space corresponds to a distance of five yards, the two yard distances being represented by short marks or dashes 22 to distinguish them from the five yard lines. l A center line 24 is also provided and end zones 26 and 28 are provided behind the opposite goal' lines. The distance of each ve yard line from its goal is indicated by numerals at theside of the field.

The width of the field does not correspond to the width of an actual football field but represents time, or a definite number of plays corresponding to denite time intervals. The width of the field is, therefore, divided into periods or quarters by means of longitudinal lines 32 extending the, length of the field and `each quarter is further divided by lines 34 into plays, each play corresponding roughly to about one minute of time.

The progress of the game is marked by the position of a marker 36 on the longitudinal and crosswise lines of the field. This marker is illustrated on a larger scale in Figs. 4 and`5 and may consist of a disc of leather, cardboard or other suitable material, preferably shaped to represent a football and having its opposite sides colored differently so that the possession of the ball may be indicated by the side. which is uppermost. The marker may be arranged tolie loosely on the field with its center at the intersection of the lines which indicate its position on the field. A y

The distance gained by either side is governed partly bythe type of play selected by the player as, for example, a run, kick Vor forward pass, and partly by an indicator such as the die shown in Fig. 3, or other indicating device, the value of Whose indications is governed by chance. The player having possession of the ball or the offensive position states which type of play he selects and .then throws the die to determine the extent ofphis gain or loss. A chart of .continues to select t plays 38, Fig. 2, gives the value of each number of the die 37. At each play, therefore the player having the offense may selecta type of play, throw the die and move the ball the distance indicated in the chart for the play selected and the number given by the throw of the die. When certain numbers occur the ball is lost and the other player takes the offensive and continues to select the plays and cast the die until he losses the ball. `With each play, however, the ball is moved across the field one space whether it is lost to the opposing player or fails to gain or gains a definite number of yards. lVhen the ball reaches the side of the field the game is ended, this situation being analogous to the end of the time limit in the usual football game. t

As in the usual football game, if a player fails to make an advance of ten yard. in four consecutive completed plays or downs, possession of the ball goes to the opposing player or side. The distance to be gained is indicated in the present game device by flags 42, Fig. 6, having a pointed standard or pin 44 which may be stuck at the intersection of a crosswise distance line corresponding to an advance of ten yards and a lengthw1se play or time line four spaces in advance. If the ball does not cross the distance line before crossing the play line it is lost to the opposing side. In this play as in all of the other plays the official footballlules-are followed, the game permitting the plays to be adapted to slight changes in the rules. f v

As an example of the manner of playing the game, goals are determined and the kick-off determined bytoss. The side having the kick-off then places the ball on his forty yard line and throws the` die. In this play the numbers l and 6 do not count, the throw being re eated if either of these numbers occur. f any of the other numbers occur the ball is moved forward a corresponding number or spaces, for example, forty yards for the number 4 The opposing player'then throws the die and if the number 2 occurs the ball is again kicked oil', or if number 1 v occurs the possession of the ball changes. If any of the other numbers occur'the player moves the ball a corresponding distance towards his opponents goal and moves the ball one space across the field, this combined play of the two layers constituting one play. This player, aving ossession of the ball,

lie type of play and throw the die, moving the ball one space across the field and the indicated number of yards lengthwise of the field until he reaches the goal or one of the side lines or loses the ball by rolling the numeral 6 on the die.

The range of gains and losses by the 2 dilferent plays is chosen to correspond to those usually obtaining in the\usual course of an act-ual game, the gains made by 2. run being much smaller thanthose made by the same numerals for a kick or forward pass and the ground which may be lost to the opponent in a run back are correspondingly smaller. On the other hand there is less likelihood ot' a forward pass being successful as the player must get one of two numerals. as "-i or 5 in the chartillustrated in Fig. 2. while any one of four numbers` Q". 3, l or 5 will givea. measure of success in the run or kick plays. A touchdown, however, requires that the ball be putover the op.- ponents goal on a run or forward pass, so that. where there is a chance of .obtaining a touchdown. `a run will be selected as the play rather than a kick play which would score as a. goal from field. which counts three points as against the touchdowns six points. 0n each first down the Hagsare 'fixed on the distance line showing the distance to be gained in four downs and on the fourth time or play line in advance.

Each situation occurring in the present game corresponds to a correspondingsituation in an actual football game and is goyerned by the same rules. The tactics to be used. are. therefore. similar to those required in an actual game. except such as develop from the ability' of individual players. or from such considerations as nearness to the side lines and other minor factors which can not be duplicated in a game apparatusl be. made. The field of pla-y may be printed or otherwise lapplied to a fabric, paper. board or other suitable medium. It will be understood thatl two dice may be used and the chart of pla-y revisedso that the chances of l obtainingany definite number will .be about the 'same as the chance of being ,successful in the corresponding play in an actual game.

Having described the invention," what l claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent titl is: l

1. A game apparatus which comprises a field of play having spaced lines arranged to represent distances betweenA goals. marks to indicate the distances of said lines from said goals, spaced lines at an angle to said distance lines, tol represent time intervals, marks to indicate t-he time intervals of suc- 4 cessive lines from a starting line and a, marker adapted to be placed on said field to indicate the progress of the game as to time and distance. y

:2. A game apparatus which comprises a field of play having lines spaced in one direction to represent distances between goals and lines transverse to said lines and spaced to represent play intervals. and a marker adapted to be placed on said field to indicate the progress of the game as to time and dist-ance.

3. A game apparatus which comprises a field of play having spaced lines to indicate distance intervals between goals and spaced lines transverselv to said distance interval lines to indicatel intervals of play, a marker adapted to be placed at the intersection of said lines to indicate the progress \of the game as to distance and play intervals, an indicating device adapted to present a series of numbers orvalues and a chart having represented thereon numbers to indicate the value of the. numbers of said indicating device for different types of plays.

4. A game apparatus which comprises a field of play having spaced lines arranged to represent distances between oals, marks to indicate the distances of sai lines from. said goals, spaced lines at an`angle-`to said distance lines, to represent time intervals and marks to indicate the time intervals of successive lines from a starting line.

5. A game apparatus which comprises a field `of play having spaced lines to represent distances and spaced lines transverse to said lines to indicate play intervals, a marking device adapted to be positioned on said field at the intersections of said lines to indicate position, and a flag device ada ted to be mounted on said vfield to indicate t e distance to'be gained in a definite number of plays.

6. A game apparatus which 'comprises a fieldof play having spaced lines to graphically represent distances bet-ween goals and spaced lines atan angle to said distance lines to indicate a limited number of plays, al marking device adapted to indicate position. a chart of plays showing different distances for different types of plays at different numbers and an indicating device adapted to indicate a playlv number by chance.

7. A game apparatuswhich comprisesv a field of play having spaced lines to graphically represent distances between goals and spaced lines at an angle to said distance lines to indicate a limited number` of plays, a marking device adapted to indicate position'. a chartof plavs showing different distances yfor different types of lays at different numbers, an indicating device adapted to indicate a play number by chance and a Hag device adapted to be placed on `said field to indica-te the distance to be gained in a given number of plays.

8. A game apparatus which comprises a eld of pla)v having transverse goal lines near its opposite ends, a center line between said goal lines and a number of spaced dis` tance lines between said center' line and said goal lines, spaced play lines extending lengthwise of said ieldvbet-ween said goal lines and adapted to indica-te a definite number of plays, said plays being divided into periods(` and a marking device adapted to indicate a position on said play and distance lines.

9. A game apparatus which comprises a field of play having transverse goal lines near its opposite ends, a center line between said goal lines and a number of spaced distance lines between said center line and said goal lines, spaced play lines extending lengthwise of said vfield between saidl goal lines and adapted to indicate a definite number of plays, said plays being divided into periods, a marking device adapted to indicate a position on said play and distance lines, a chartof plays arranged to indicate a number of dierenttypes of plays and a series of numerals for each type and a definite distance yalue for each number and type, and an indicating device for indicat ing one number by chance.

In testimonyr whereof I atix my signature.

GEORGE W. BISHOP.- 

